HEQ UAV Swan K1 Pro VTOL tail sitter - the DJI of flying wings

[@joelk2893]

Love your videos - this is by far the best review of this plane yet. I've been sitting hard on the fence for it.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thank you! Much appreciated!

[@woogieman02]

Great video again sir....interested to see what your complaints are being as this one doesn't have proper hinges...hell it doesn't have hinges at all!!

[@ArxangelRC]

Haha, no complains at all! The only thing better than proper hinges is no hinges to worry about at all!

[@TechTronic9000]

This reminds me a bit of the Parrot Disco, that one is also made "idiot proof", but that is a wing with no VTOL capability so you still need to throw it and "crash land it". Nice video by the way and the chase of the Razor Crest was spectacular.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks! Yeah, in some ways it is similar! In others... not su much! :)

[@upperechelon3456]

Great video AARC. Hmmm...Lets see. It has a similar range of a DJI Mavic one [about 6 KM] and the motors look like the same ones on the phantom series quads. The Apps looks eerily familiar also. I've always said DJI should have come out with a VTOL fixed wing so this is close enough. I have four phantoms in my hanger so I'll have plenty of spare motors should the need arise LOL. I do think the OPM Hobby ZMO VTOL is a more interesting platform, however this seems easier to fly with less failure points. Be sure to watch out for the V2 of the HEQ UAV Swan with a 2 axis gimble and a few other minor refinements due out very soon. Cheers

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah, others have also noted that the app looks similar... but they all have to get inspired from somewhere, right? And DJI is leading the way for sure! I think if they ever come out with a plane... it might be pretty similar to this... but I guess we will see what size it will be! ZMO is cool, but I hate those swinging mechanisms... Yes, I have seen the Voyager and know of it! :)

[@maxun1]

people is been using the Heewing T1 ranger for vtol with arduplane and works fantastic.

[@ArxangelRC]

Sure! This is probably an alternative! :) Besides, as far as I've been able to surmise, it is using some form of the Ardu code as well.

[@maxun1]

@@ArxangelRC yes is plane from ardupilot.

[@maxun1]

@@ArxangelRC Check my channel

[@maxun1]

@@ArxangelRC we need a master in ardupilot like you with a tutorial.

[@ArxangelRC]

@@maxun1 Tutorial on what?

[@harryprendergast7499]

Hey Nikola, another awesome video. I was flying my xuav mini goose today(first time cloudsurfing), the goose is currently running a pixhawk. I found the pichawk to be pretty user friendly as it's mostly plug and play. Now however I plan on putting a flight computer in the volantex ranger 2400 and I'm looking at what computer to get.Now I know what I'm doing I wanting something cheaper than the pixhawk, what would you say your go to flight computer is?

[@ArxangelRC]

Well, I have been very happy with the Matek Wing controllers, they have been awesome for me, but I am not sure if they are still being sold. You need to see what has succeeded them, but my bet is you can't go wrong with a Matek!

[@AerialWaviator]

Very fascinating and through review. Wondering if there is a way to add a generic servo so could at least adjust tilt of a camera. It would seem that a basic 2-4 position camera tilt function would be included (given VTOL and Wing flight modes). Lacking a camera tilt suggest VTOL really meant for just TOL, and camera use limited to wing flight. I'd be curious how much throttle/speed range of control you have flying as a wing? The chase scenes seem to suggest speed couldn't easily changed while trying to fly formation. Does seem rock solid in the air, so would make an excellent mapping platform. Looking forward to seeing what any experiments and challenges you devise for this birdie. Will surely be educational, as most prior reviews just covered a basic flight demo and overview.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thank you! I haven't opened the bottom yet, but HEQ claim the camera has a fixed angle.... so perhaps if it is possible to add a servo to tilt the camera, you'd have to pretty much dig foam and DIY the whole thing. Yes, the TOL part is meant to be short and quick, hence why probably they did not include a tilting camera. As far as I heard, the next model they are working on will have a tilting camera! I have nothing against a fixed camera, so long as I can move the angle up a bit so it is not so ground focused! At full throttle I have seen around 22m/s speeds, and over 30m/s going downwind. It actually changes speed very quickly when I give it the command.

[@AerialWaviator]

@@ArxangelRC With 4x motors, it should be very agile. Impressive speeds. :)

[@ArxangelRC]

@@AerialWaviator Well... agile... depends on the circumstances, not specifically, but given the specifics it is pretty good!

[@PaunFD]

As you said, camera angle ... should/could be bettar - in such a way that some part of the sky/horizon line would be visible ...

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah!

[@IanF-FPV]

Nice review. Can you do a review on both the Reptile Dragon Talon and the bigger brother Reptile Dragon 2?

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks. I have the Reptile 2, but not the smaller one!

[@wayneiona]

The problem I see with this wing is that if a motor or ESC dies so does the wing, no control or landing. Excellent video again.

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah, true... but... like I said in the video... trade offs! :)

[@TechTronic9000]

Same as a drone, loose an ESC and the drone goes down. As like all things, there are pros and there are cons.

[@wayneiona]

I did know that but I was hoping the the manufacturer was working on some safety system to save you model from destruction.

[@ArxangelRC]

@@wayneiona Well it is pretty durable! I mean short of adding a parachute... not much you can do that would be within reason!

[@wackyack3165]

Most owners have swopped out the OEM camera for a DJI HD FPV system - easy to do.

[@ArxangelRC]

Sadly I don't have that one... easy... but also expensive!

[@KingHaggis]

I prefer the OMP Hobby ZMO Vtol even though that's still not a very finished product.

[@ArxangelRC]

Sure! :) Not a fan of the swinging motors though!

[@wattage2007]

App reminds me of my old Phantom 2 Vision +.

[@ArxangelRC]

I've never had that copter so have not seen the app! :)

[@wattage2007]

@@ArxangelRC It was pretty basic with low frame rate. Good at the time though 😀

[@ArxangelRC]

@@wattage2007 I see! Well... DJI have been ahead in the game for quite some time, others will get there eventually! :P

[@pascalpiquemal3763]

Once again a very well done and clearly commented video (tell us : you must be an english teacher !) The mapping version of it, including PPK GNSS is very tempting. I would be curious to have feedback from users. Also I saw that arduplane can be installed. That is a good ability to switch to another control software.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thank you! But no, I am not an English teacher! Mapping version does look sweet indeed, but the version of QGroundControl installed on the remote is some HEQ version as well, I assume it is used for the mapping mission creating for the mapping Swan! Have not been able to get Mission Planner running on the device though, it crashes as soon as I try to connect to the plane, but the HEQ Fly app and the HEQ QGroundControl app work well.

[@MasboyRC]

Impressive 👍

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah! :)

[@AllAroundTube50]

The ZMO VTOL is the better deal (about the same price, but in my opinion, more fun).

[@ArxangelRC]

Sure! :)

[@WWIFlyingAce]

Reminds me of the Parrot Disco plane

[@ArxangelRC]

A lot easier to take off and land though! :P

[@shakaibsafvi97]

Hi... what is the maximum range ?

[@ArxangelRC]

As stated in the video, that remains to be tested! Factory specs claim 4-5kms for the video system.

[@themustangone6449]

I like this, just gotta get the mrs to dig the idea $$$

[@ArxangelRC]

Haha, well... most just don't let them know how much it really costs!:P

[@BrainDeadEngineering]

Very nice show and cool vehicle! I'm betting the limits are because of safe transmission limits tx to rx . Like my futaba it failsafe at 1300 feet plus or minus 20 feet . I don't want walk through plowed fields and shrub to retrieve at my age any more lmao . When you going to build a transition wing VTOL anyways, been waiting long time ! giggles .."wink"

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks! The limits are purely software based, the video or control system may not necessarily have that range! Actually I do have a video on a VTOL wing - the Arkbird one.

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Those look like the original phantom motors.

[@ArxangelRC]

They could be... I am not sure though!

[@TheTeeDay]

What’s the top speed of this ?

[@ArxangelRC]

I have seen speeds over 20m/s, but haven really done a max speed run specifically!

[@wkndwrior2218]

топ летателен апарат. great review!

[@ArxangelRC]

Мерси! 😝

[@lasersbee]

How many NITS is the Radio Screen ? The video Jello is aweful...

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah, will need to balance the props somehow! Doesn't matter though, if you have a 4k recording camera on the nose. :) As for the screen, I am having a hard time finding that specific parameter for the screen... so not sure!

[@lasersbee]

@@ArxangelRC Thanks for the quick reply.. Not sure but is the main FPV camera a DJI HD 720p unit ?

[@ArxangelRC]

@@lasersbee No, it is not, but you can replace the whole video unit with the DJI unit and use your DJI goggles with it, they even sell it with a DJI system as a set, but this one does not have it, it is the stock camera and receiver setup that comes with the remote controller.

[@OrLove13]

Классно конечно, достал из коробки и летишь. Но если вы сделаете что то подобное и расскажите думаю многие скажут спасибо, от меня точно.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thank you! Appreciated! :)

[@M-H433]

Pass.

[@ArxangelRC]

Sure! Whatever floats your boat! :P